Orange County voting center reopened after closing due to a suspicious package

A Westminster voting center reopened Saturday two hours after being evacuated because of a suspicious package found nearby, officials said.

Westminster police received a call shortly after 4 p.m. regarding a package left in a parking lot adjacent to the Westminster Community Services Building. Vote center workers, voters and ballots were evacuated “because of the nature of the package,” Sheriff’s Cmdr. Alan Iwashita said.

The bomb squad arrived shortly before 6 p.m. The Orange County registrar tweeted soon after that the building was safe and had reopened. The center is open this weekend from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“I am grateful that our vote center team members and voters are safe,” Neal Kelley, the Orange County registrar, said in a statement. “My office is dedicated to providing election services for the citizens of Orange County to ensure equal access to the election process, protect the integrity of votes, and maintain a transparent, accurate and fair process.”